COAS orders repair of damaged equipment to boost fight against insurgency

THE Nigerian Army has ordered the immediate purchase of spare parts and repair of damaged equipment to enhance the fight against insurgency in the country.

This was disclosed today by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru today at his opening remarks at the combined COAS First Quarter Conference and Nigerian Army Operations Retreat 2021 held at Army Headquarters Command Officers’ Mess in Abuja.

The Army chief also admitted that the the military is facing logistics constraints affecting its operations across the country.

The COAS, however, noted that the President would soon fulfill his promise to strengthen and enhance the Nigerian Army’s operations by providing combat enablers.

“Again, in order to increase our operational capabilities, I have approved the purchase of spare parts and directed that all damaged and unserviceable equipment in the theatre be backloaded for immediate repairs.

“I want to assure you that I am determined in rebuilding the fighting skills, capacity, confidence, and morale of our troops across the various theatres of operations,” the army chief said.

He added, “In order to achieve this, my top priorities for the second and third quarters of the year would be training – I will ensure that through functional training, officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army are equipped with the right competencies and skills to effectively undertake daring missions in addition to developing special operations forces.”

Attahiru explained that this would be closely followed by procurement that would ensure appropriate kitting and provision of protective gear, weapons, equipment, and platforms.

He highlighted administration as a key principle of war, saying the welfare of troops would also be given paramount attention.

The army chief, however, asked the senior officers at the event to ensure the sustenance and maintenance of all equipment and put measures in place for sound administration of troops and their families.

He said, “I want to state that the Nigerian Army under my watch will remain resolute in decisively dealing with any threat confronting the country.

“Hence, I have directed that serious attention must be given to sustaining and improving the tempo in all ongoing Nigerian Army operations across the country.”

“Commanders must, therefore, glean from my command philosophy to ensure that operational and administrative proficiencies of Nigerian Army formations and units are sustained and improved upon,” Attahiru added.

This is coming a week after some soldiers of an unidentified battalion in Operation Lafiya Dole protested their posting to a location in the Theatre of Operation.

The aggrieved soldiers, according to sources at the Maimalari barracks besieged the headquarters of the Theatre Command in Borno State, shooting repeatedly into the air following their deployment.

They cited non-payment of allowances and poor equipment as reasons for their rebellion.

But in a swift reaction, the Nigerian Army dismissed the reports saying it was unsubstantiated and did not represent the true situation of the incident.